"When we shot for that film, there was still a bit of unfamiliarity between us since it was our first film together," he says, "However now we all know how brilliant he was in that film and he managed to keep his head high despite someone like Ajay (Devgn) in the film. When he stepped into THE DIRTY PICTURE, the earlier success that we delivered changed the equation for him."

MILAN LUTHRIA and EMRAAN HASHMI

Narrating an incident from early this year, Milan remembers, "I remember Emraan reporting for the first day of THE DIRTY PICTURE shoot. This was exactly the day after MURDER 2 had released and turned into a super-hit. It was 4 am and we were discussing the film's collections that were just trickling in. He was excited but composed. I just told him that I could sense a very different kind of personality on the sets when compared to what he is in real life. While I obviously felt that our initial bit of awkwardness had been totally erased after doing a film together, he too acknowledged that his comfort level had increased." CHECK OUT: Emraan Hashmi in Parliament to promote THE DIRTY PICTURE

While one waits to see the kind of persona that Emraan brings on screen with the release of THE DIRTY PICTURE, there is a definite expectation of yet another dramatic outing from him, something that happens to be his forte.

"Here I would like to add that the film is a complete package instead of being just a drama," he says. "I didn't want to make a one-dimensional film, which is dark and tragic. We have been very honest about the film in its promotion as well as by telling audience what the film is all about. There is a strong balance maintained by keeping humour and entertainment intact with good dose of sensuality. We are unapologetic about it."

THE DIRTY PICTURE has music by Vishal-Shekhar and releases worldwide this weekend.